On March 27, educators, students, and arts leaders throughout Delaware convened for the annual “March for the Arts” in Dover, DE. This event celebrates arts education throughout the state and recognizes the critical role that the arts play in providing a well-rounded education for Delaware’s youth. This year, advocates also emphasized the importance of arts education for the 21st century workforce so that they can develop the necessary artistic traits, such as communicating through words, images, sounds, and movements, and the creativity and innovation skills that are appreciated by today’s employers and community leaders. March for the Arts is hosted alongside Lauren Conrad, Education Associate of Visual and Performing Arts at the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) and the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA).
Photos provided by Jenna Greenlee for Delaware Senate Democrats, Laura Highberger for Delaware House GOP, Mary Jane Vanvestraut of Music School of Delaware, and Jennifer Boland of Campus Community School.
Want to contribute your photos from the event? Share Your Event Photos, Videos, & Feedback Here.
Advocates first participated in an Arts & Culture Caucus, featuring panel discussion “Pathways in the Arts: From K-12 to Career” in the Tatnall Building, then migrated to Legislative Hall for an Arts Showcase, Legislator Meetings, a joint performance of the National Anthem by two high school choirs, and concluded with an unanimous passing of the “March for the Arts” Resolution, designating March 2025 as March for the Arts in Delaware.
During this event, advocates asked their legislators to:
- Support a $1M operating budget increase for state arts funding through the Delaware Division of the Arts
- Support the development of a Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathway for the creative economy, in which all students have opportunities to explore careers in the arts and earn credit towards work experience, and all schools can generate funding to support this work.
- Attend the May 15th Arts & Culture Caucus Meeting in Tatnall Room 112, RSVP at bit.ly/ACC25rsvp
- Promote DelawareScene.com – the statewide website that promotes arts and culture events, artist roster, and job board.
- Visit an arts education classroom in your district to see how the arts contribute to a well-rounded education.
Read more about the event below.
Arts & Culture Caucus
During the Arts & Culture Caucus, co-chaired by Sen. Tizzy Lockman (D) and Rep. Bryan Shupe (R), 60+ advocates attended the panel discussion, Pathways in the Arts: From K-12 to Career: an opportunity to celebrate the role an arts education plays in career development and to share insight into ways to bridge the gap between education and industry in the creative sector. The panel featured the following creatives, lending insight on the existing pathway system, equity gaps, and ways we can further support artists building their skills and careers in Delaware.
- Dylenn Enright – Music Student at Cape Henlopen High School
- Olivia Drumbore – Freshman at Point Park University & Mount Pleasant High School Alum
- Chris Burkhart – Director of Instrumental Music at Cape Henlopen High School
- Shana Noll – Principal at MOT Charter High School
- Laura Sebastiano – Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator at Appoquinimink School District
- Mike Pfieffer – Founder and Owner at 1440 Film Co.
- Kerriann Otaño – Vice President of Engagement at OperaDelaware
Representing educators, students, and employers, the panel discussed expanding pathways in the arts. Schools that have developed local arts pathways for students provide a series of courses in the arts while also gaining real-world experience through internships, mentorships, and other career exploration opportunities. However, this work does not receive dedicated federal Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding like other sectors. A dedicated statewide pathway in the arts could provide schools with additional support and infrastructure needed to provide opportunities for students to connect coursework to real-world careers. Together these efforts in supporting arts education would help bridge gaps in access/opportunities, invest in the next generation of creative workers, and produce a skilled market for employers to source from Delaware, leading to the collective advancement of Delaware’s creative economy.
Legislative Attendees
The following legislators also attended the Arts & Culture Caucus. If you see an elected official from your district, please consider sending them a “Thank You” call or email for their participation and asking them to attend the next caucus on May 15.
Senator Lockman (D) & Representative Shupe (R) (Co-Chairs), Senator Huxtable (D), Senator Buckson (R), Senator Brown (D), Representative Burns (D), Representative Gormon (D), Representative Spiegelman (R), Representative Neal (D).
Unsure who your legislators are?
Search for your home address at: legis.delaware.gov/FindMyLegislator
RSVP to attend the net Arts & Culture Caucus, May 15 at 11:30AM at Tatnall Building (Room 112) or via Zoom at: bit.ly/ACC25rsvp.
Learn more about the Arts & Culture Caucuses Here.
Art Showcase
After the Arts & Culture Caucus, advocates marched over to Legislative Hall to take individual meetings with their legislators. Meaningful discussion also took place with government leaders around the Arts Showcase – a display of student artwork from local schools and a “Collaborative Collage” project, led by Jennifer Boland, arts teacher at Campus Community Charter School, and her students.
Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay took time to speak with our students, educators, and contribute to our Collaborative Collage (pictured). The Lt. Governor’s Creative Economy Convenings – another opportunity to support advancement of the arts in Delaware, is scheduled for May 8 and reoccurs on the 2nd Thursday of every other month. Register here: bit.ly/LTGOVCEC
Arts educators such as Irina Turner (Arts by Angelova), Shilpi Gupta, and Mary Jane Vanvestraut (Music School of Delaware) helped demonstrate the talent and artistry of local students, featuring a performing arts slideshow and visual art on tables and easels in the lobby.
National Anthem Performance
Before session started, the Dover High School Select Ensemble & Milford High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Brad Whitenight and Julie Keefer, jointly performed the National Anthem on the Chambers steps. Check out the video for a moving demonstration of some of the gifted youth performers we have in Delaware!
2025 Poetry Out Loud Winner, Olivia Stevens
We were honored to have Olivia Stevens, 2025 Poetry Out Loud Winner and student from Mount Sophia Academy in Brookside, perform at the Arts & Culture Caucus, on the Senate Floor, and the House Floor to share her talents with legislators and remind all of us of the importance of supporting arts education.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 37: Unanimously Passed!
At the end of the day, arts advocates filled the galleries of the House and Senate to witness voting on SCR37, Designating the Month of March 2025 as “March for the Arts” in the State of Delaware, authored by Sen. Lockman and Rep. Shupe. Passage of this Resolution, reflecting the will and intent of the entire legislator, happened unanimously in both the House and the Senate with Sponsors: Sen. Lockman & Bryan Shupe, and Co-Sponsors: Sen. Cruce, Sen. Hoffner, Sen. Huxtable, Sen. Sokola, Sen. Wilson, Rep. Chukwuocha, Rep. Gorman, Rep. Heffernan, Rep. K. Johnson, Rep. Morrison, and Rep. Osienski.
What’s Next?
- Support a $1M operating budget increase for state arts funding through the Delaware Division of the Arts
- Continue Building Relationships with your Legislator(s): Having personal connections with elected officials helps us with achieving our shared advocacy goals. Even if you could not join us for March for the Arts, please consider attending a constituent coffee in your district or inviting a Legislator to your organization’s event.
- Unsure of who your legislators are? Search your address here: legis.delaware.gov/FindMyLegislator
- Register for the next Arts & Culture Caucus: May 15, 2025, 11:30-12:30PM at Tatnall Building (Room 112) in Dover, DE.
Thank You!
To all our members and advocates who attended, thank you for your participation! Your time spent fostering relationships with both one another and elected officials helps ensure we stay relevant as a sector, reminds our legislators of the power of the arts, identifies new potential opportunities to support the creative economy, and keeps building upon the momentum of the CREATE Plan. In offering your time, skills, and unique insights to engage with our advocacy efforts, you are providing our collective tremendous value that will help aid the advancement of the arts in Delaware!
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Published 4.2.2025